Your roof needs maintenance, just like any other part of your home. While it certainly isn’t easy to see this entire feature of your house, let alone take care of it, there are plenty of things you can do to maintain a roof on your own, with the help of home maintenance experts like a roofing contractor.
1. Maintain Gutters
What do your gutters have to do with your roof? Everything. Debris builds up in gutters whether you are surrounded by shedding trees or not. If water is unable to flow freely through your gutters and downspouts because of blockages, the backup can lead to roof decking rot. If you can’t get on a ladder and tend to things, call a gutter-cleaning company or invest in screened gutters that keep big obstructions out.
2. Trim Trees
You might love those beautiful trees that surround or kiss your house, but they are a big hazard too. Along with building a bridge for squirrels and their cousins to invade your roof and home, any branches or limbs that are knocked loose by wind or storms can do serious damage. Contact tree cutters to trim tree branches when they grow too close to your roof.
3. Remove Moss
Moss and mold love wet areas, and they can spread from rooftop to rooftop on the wind. If you spot areas of moss or mold on your roof, it’s a good sign that moisture is collecting in that place. The presence of moss can also curl asphalt shingles, which means a strong storm could knock those shingles off and allow moisture into the lower layers of your roofing system and mold to develop. Always contact a roofing expert to help with visible problem areas.
4. Shovel Snow
When snow lands on the roof, it just gets heavier and heavier. If you have an older roof, you run the risk of a roof collapse. Some snow cover is a good thing and can provide insulation from the cold, but if snow depths go over two feet, problems can arise quickly. It is always safer to contact a roofing contractor to remove the snow rather than trying to do it yourself and risking injury or the development of ice dams and roof leaks.
5. Look for Leaks
It’s important to be proactive about your home’s roof maintenance, and this includes looking for leaks in the highest places, like the attic and ceilings on the upper floors. Look for signs of moisture or water damage and if you suspect a problem, call a professional roofer to conduct an inspection and get the issue resolved before it becomes a more serious complication.
6. Check for Missing or Damaged Shingles
You can see a lot of your roof from the ground – simply take time to walk the perimeter of your home and give it a visual inspection. Severe weather can damage or tear off the shingles, even shrink them or cause them to crack. If you can’t see anything that’s out of line but you suspect something is wrong, schedule a roof maintenance inspection with your roofing contractor at The Modern Pros in Detroit. We recognize problem areas immediately and get them taken care of before you have even more problems.